UMass Minutemen hires Walt Bell as head cooach

The UMass Minutemen has hired Walt Bell as the team’s new head coach on Monday. He spent the 2018 season as the Florida State Seminoles Offensive Coordinator.

He takes over a program that went 4-8 this past season. Mark Whipple was the team’s head coach for the past five seasons before stepping down at the end of the 2018 campaign.

Football

“I am immensely excited for the opportunity to serve as the University of Massachusetts football head coach, and for my wife, Maria, and I to join the UMass family,” Bell said. “I cannot thank athletic director Ryan Bamford, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and the entire university administration enough for the opportunity to guide this program. I look forward to getting right to work with the young men on our team.”

Prior to arriving at Florida State, he spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as the Maryland Terrapins Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. He also was the Arkansas State Red Wolves Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach in 2014 and 2015.

He was the North Carolina Tar Heels Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator in 2012 and 2013. He also was the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles Wide Receivers Coach in 2011.

The 33-year-old Dickson, Tennessee native served as the Golden Eagles Offensive Graduate Assistant in 2010. He also served as the Oklahoma State Cowboys Quality Control Coach in 2009.

Bell began his coaching career in 2007 and 2008 as a Graduate Assistant with the Memphis Tigers.